In most cases, political money spent outside Iowa shows up inside the state in the form of caucus-time TV ads and campaign mailers.

In at least one case, though, the opposite is true. Des Moines-based political firm Redwave Communications did business totaling $148,565 with Mitt Romney’s campaign through September of this year, and the majority of it was for direct-mail services that hit mailboxes outside the state.

“I do direct mail for the campaign around the country, and that’s the primary expenditure for my firm,” Redwave founder David Kochel said.

Redwave has provided services to Romney since his 2002 run for Massachusetts governor, and has created campaign pieces for about 75 congressional candidates in 15 or 20 states.

In addition to the mailers, Kochel provides field consulting services like event planning and strategy implementation in Iowa that totaled about $47,000 between January and September.

Caudill Consulting

George Caudill knows something about putting on a presidential event. He’s done advance work and event coordination for the Democratic Party, Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and the Clinton White House.

You read that right: He’s a Democrat.

Last August’s Iowa straw poll was an all-GOP affair, but Caudill crossed party lines to coordinate Michele Bachmann’s Ames operation, which featured an air-conditioned tent, free barbecue and country-music star Randy Travis.

The price was right: His company billed the Bachmann campaign $295,858.

“They seemed to be OK with the fact that I was a Democrat, and I seemed to be OK with the fact that I have two young children to feed,” Caudill said. “Normally I wouldn’t work for Republicans.”

When the general election cranks up next year, Caudill says he’ll be working for Obama.

Windstar Lines

Windstar Lines, a Carroll-based charter bus service, has a limited role in Iowa’s political process: centered on transportation to and from the straw poll in August. But it’s still a big job.

Windstar collected $204,518 from the various campaigns — including $179,000 alone from the Tim Pawlenty campaign. Company president Jeff Greteman said he had to secure 90 motor coaches for the day, including 40 that were contracted from other companies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska.

“We do more than anybody,” Greteman said. “We’re the largest provider in the state.”

In previous years, the company has rented out its VIP motor coach to a presidential candidate for three weeks.
Midwest Inflatables

Ames-based Midwest Inflatables’ name pretty much says it all: They rent out big, inflatable play equipment.

If that doesn’t sound like a key element to a presidential campaign, you’ve clearly never been to the Iowa straw poll.

The campaigns of both Ron Paul and Thad McCotter contracted with Midwest, said business owner Jeremy Boekelman. The McCotter camp shelled out $482 for a bounce house, while Paul went a bit bigger — booking the 21-foot tall inflatable Vertical Rush obstacle course slide for $1,650.

Outside the straw poll, Midwest generally provides inflatables for corporate events, church celebrations, community festivals and the like.

The Machine Shed

The Machine Shed is no stranger to the presidential spotlight. The Urbandale restaurant is a frequent venue for campaign events and photo-ops, Manager Pat Wood said.

Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich have stopped by, and Herman Cain has been visiting for years.

Finance reports show GOP campaigns spent a combined $5,494 at the Machine Shed between January and September of this year, but Wood said the value to the restaurant is actually far higher. Campaign events attract additional diners, but also media that can’t help but advertise the restaurant far and wide.

“Many times when Herman Cain and Newt were coming here, they said ‘Machine Shed’ on the nightly news,” Wood said.

Central Lighting & Equipment

When you see candidates out on the campaign trail, they usually have microphones in their hands and spotlights shining on their faces. Often, they have Central Lighting & Equipment to thank for that.

Owner Arren Wentzel said his company has done jobs for every Republican candidate in the race right now. Campaign finance records show sales totaling $14,278.

The Des Moines company, which works nationwide and frequently put on Iowa events for President George W. Bush, handles lighting and audio, and, when the situation demands it, stages and backgrounds.